Is it really April?

I only ask this, because by the weather we've been having, you'd never know it.  The kids are on Spring Break this week and the weather feels more like Winter Break.  We've all been doing well.  Josh is playing indoor soccer at the YMCA and I'm not sure if I mentioned it before, but Jessie is busy after school each day walking the neighbors two dogs.  She loves it!

Jessie's Young Women's group put on a Modest Fashion show last week at the church for parents and the activity day girls (ages 8-11), to show how cute you can look, wearing modest clothing.  The girls modeled Back-to-School, Semi-Formal, and Formal Styles.  They all looked beautiful.  They are all such great examples.  Here is Jessie walking down the red carpet with one of the Back-to-School outfits...

In our new neighborhood, the Home Owners Assoc. sponsored an egg hunt at one of the neighborhood parks on Saturday.  Ben and Jessie thought they were too old to participate, but Josh and Abby had fun.  Abby loved the Easter Bunny and was the only one who wanted to say hello.  That afternoon, we finally had the chance to color our Easter eggs.

Talking about the 'wintery' weather here...on Monday and Tuesday this week, at right about 3 p.m. (I remember, because both times Jessie headed out to go walk the dogs, and quickly had to come back inside), it started downpouring with rain and hail.  This photo is of Monday's hail.  Tuesday's was more rain than hail, but still...and now, tomorrow they are calling for high winds and snow in the higher hills (which probably won't be us, but who knows).

Today, the kids and I spent the day at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle.  We had a great time. Here is Josh trying to look like a mean catipillar and Abby who wanted to show off her balancing skills on the same catipillar.  I didn't add any photos from the butterfly house, but it was really cool, as always.  Abby was terrified of the butterflies, though, which didn't make it very fun for me, since I had to carry her around clinging to me and screeching any time a butterfly would flutter around us...strange thing to be scared of, if you ask me.

The kids really seemed to enjoy the temporary Mars exhibit.  The photo below is of Ben testing out what walking on Mars would be like (weighing only 38% of his weight on earth).  He had a hard time walking, but bouncing was fun and easy.  Although the weather was cold, windy, and rainy, Seattle Center still had their fountain going.  We'll definitely have to come back this summer when it's hot out and then the kids might actually be interesting in playing in the fountain.

Abby...
So, on Tuesday, February 9th, Abby went in for her 3-year check-up.  She continues to be almost off the chart for height, just like the rest of the kids.  Anyways, while there, the pediatrician was concerned about the effect that Abby's binky has had on her teeth, so she told Abby that she needs to give up her binky.  So, Abby's nap that day was the last time she had her binky.  The first few days were a little rough, but not as bad as I expected.  She doesn't nap anymore, but at least she usually goes to bed a little earlier than she use to.  This past Monday, Abby kept getting out of bed and finally Mike and I were tired of putting her back in, so we just let her sneak around upstairs.  When I headed upstairs to go to bed, Abby wasn't in her bed when I checked on her.  I looked every where upstairs and then Mike joined me and we both searched the entire house.  Garage, closets, bathtubs, cabinets...no where to be found!  We were getting worried.  Finally, I came downstairs and I heard a noise in the family room.  I found Abby sleeping in the corner behind the t.v. stand.  How she sneaked downstairs without us seeing her, I don't know.  I'm just glad we found her.  When Mike was posting the photo to facebook the next evening, Mike asked Abby about it and she said, "I sneaking!". That girl!!!

Cub Scout Pinewood Derby
Tuesday, February 23rd, was Ben's Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.  He didn't have the fastest car this year, but it looked cool!  Josh also designed a car and brought it with him.  When the Cub Master found out, she let him race it once all the official racing finished and he even got a certificate like all the other boys.  He thought that was pretty cool!

Ben receiving his certificate and Pinewood Derby segment from his Cub Master.

Josh receiving his certificate.

Josh and his car.

Ben and his car, actually it was more like a pick-up truck.

Ben's Friend Birthday Party

So Ben only wanted to invite his 3 of his best friends over the Friday evening after his birthday for a party.  We served pizza for dinner, then had birthday cake and ice cream.  They played Wii upstairs, shot Ben's air soft guns in the garage, had an airplane flying contest in the hall, watched most of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and then played 2-square, before I took the boys home.  Ben really enjoyed spending an evening with his friends.  As you can see, Ben continued with the Army figure theme for his cake.  Thank goodness for ideas from magazines and the internet!

Happy 9th Birthday, Ben!!!

Yesterday was Ben's birthday.  I took some chocolate covered donut holes to his classroom while he was in P.E. as a surprise.  I cooked grilled cheese and french fries for dinner, at his request.  Then we had Nana, Gramps, and Uncle Jeff over for dessert.  Ben opened his gifts first.  He loved all of them.  Then off to the garage to test them out.  Then we had dessert. 

Ben loved playing his 3rd season of basketball that just finished on Saturday.  He still enjoys being outside doing various activities like riding his scooter, bike, and playing soccer, army, or ball tag with neighborhood boys. He likes school and does well, but doesn't really like having to do his homework (especially reading) during the week.  He is still in Cub Scouts and is now officially a Bear, since he is 9.  He has his Pinewood Derby tonight, which should be a lot of fun!  I love thinking back to the day he was born.  Even though newborns aren't much different as a girl or a boy, I knew that when he got older, he would be so much different than his big sister.  I was right, but that difference is wonderful and I've enjoyed having him as my first son .  I love you, Ben!

A few shots of his favorite gifts...

New scooter from Grandma and Grampy (this will make scooter #3 for him...he's worn all the others out!)

Hopefully Mike and I won't regret this, but we bought him an air-soft 'shotgun' and 'pistol'.

Finger bike and dirt ramps from Nana and Gramps.

Immediately out to the garage to test out the guns.  The target (and ammo) was from Uncle Jeff.  It has a sticky surface, so the air-soft pellets stick and you can reuse them.  I think the ammo is pretty cheap, but now Ben won't have to go out and buy it quite as often.

Dessert.  Ben requested cupcakes with army guys on top.

Ben will be having a party on Friday with 3 of his best friends.  I'm sure I'll be posting about that this weekend, so stay tuned!

The End to a Great Birthday
Saturday evening, we took Abby to Build-A-Bear as the last part of her birthday present from me, Mike, and the kids.  Afterwards, we ate dinner at Ruby's Diner (we don't go out to eat too often, but when we do, it's one of our family's favorite places for good burgers, fries, and shakes, and the trains riding on the tracks hanging from the ceiling are a bonus, too!).  A great way to end Abby's 3rd birthday!

Picking out her stuffed animal...so many to choose from!

She chose the black bear. 

 

Here she is pushing the pedal to fill the bear with it's stuffing and then giving the bear a hug test to see if there is enough.

Giving the bear a bath.

Selecting an outfit.  Then we filled out a birth certificate.  She insisted the bear was a boy, so the boys helped her with the outfit choice and then she named it 'Abby Dude'.  Then it was time to put the bear in it's new house, and off we went!

While the guys ran an errand and Jessie was smelling ALL the lotions in Bath and Body Works, Abby played with her new bear.

Sipping her chocolate milk at Ruby's Diner...Yum!

After the mall, we ran to Walmart for a couple things.  While there, Abby picked out a pink soccer ball for her present from Grandma Betty.  When it was time for bed, she insisted she had to wear her new dress-up clothes, sleep with her bear, her ball, and her new little flashlight.  Too funny!

ABBY
Today Abby turned 3!  She's definitely been acting like a 3-year old lately... Abby has been showing her independence by wanting to do things all by herself.  She loves to put on zip-up pjs like the yellow ones below.  She's also been trying to put on her shirts, too, but not doing too well.  I'm sure she'll get it soon.  She has been bossy lately, too.  Maybe being the youngest, she feels that's the only way she'll get something, I don't know.  Her favorite words are 'I want...  RIGHT NOW!'  She loves to ride her bike (which is actually her friend Murphy's that we're going to have to give back soon), ride her scooter, play hop scotch (she's getting the hang of hopping on one foot), watch Ice Age (and Uncle Jeff gave her #3 tonight!), snuggle with her B's (binky and blankie), read her "There's a Mouse About the House" Usborne book every night before bed, play games like Zingo, Barnyard Bingo, Cariboo, Marble Works, etc.  Somewhat recently, she has been getting interested in dress-up and princess stuff.  So, I made her a 'pink princess castle cake' because she requested it, a Super Princess Abby cape (with Wonder Pets on the other side), a new princess/fairy/magic wand, and she recieved some dress-up princess stuff from Nana and Gramps, and a new sparkley star necklace from Grandma (because Abby keeps telling Grandma she needs another new necklace...).  After dinner Nana, Gramps, and Uncle Jeff came over for presents and cake and ice cream.  Today was a fun day and I hope that Abby enjoys being 3!

This is a photo from the other day when she was watching Ice Age while I was getting ready for the day. Oh, and I almost forgot, I cut her hair this weekend!  Her first hair cut.  We think it looks really cute.

Here she is riding Murphy's bike just before we got Josh off the school bus the other day.

Birthday Girl.  Josh made her this princess crown!

Breakfast with her brothers before school - German puff pancakes.

Playing hop scotch just before Josh came home today.

Oh, and she LOVES lollipops.  I have to have a stash of them in the van because that is the only way I can keep her sitting in the cart long enough to do grocery shopping!

A funny face photo.

She loves her brothers and sister.

They had to do the silly face photo, too.

Her new princess crown, wand, Cinderella dress, star necklace, and fancy shoes.

Super Princess Abby to the rescue!

The  Wonder Pet side...

I made her this dress.  I couldn't get her to stand still or look at the camera...

Her pink princess castle cake.

MLK Day
It was nice to have such a beautiful day last Monday when the kids didn't have school.  We took advantage by spending some time at a nice park in Woodinville.

The park had a skate park, too.  Abby did really well on her scooter.  She and Ben were the only ones to ride.

The kids love this spinning circle.  The closest edge (where Abby is laying) is lower than the farthest edge so it's fun to try to get others to fall off.

The climbing rock is also fun, however, Abby won't go because the last time we came, she climbed up and it was hard for me to get her down.  Maybe when she's bigger.

So, Ben is playing basketball at the YMCA again this year, and they needed a coach for his team, so I agreed to do it.  It's been fun so far and good experience for me to try to put all those skills (that I haven't used in quite a while) I learned way back in High School to some good use.  Coaching is a challenge.  More photos to come throughout the season.  Go Yellow Cheetahs!